Southern California -- this just in

Fire officials report making headway in Camarillo brush fire

July 13, 2010 | 6:00
pm

More than 250 firefighters appeared to be making some headway in battling a brush fire in Camarillo, officials said.

Crews on the ground were being assisted by four air tankers and four helicopters that were making repeated drops of water and flame-retardant on the fire front, the Ventura County Fire Department said.

Steven Sherrick watched the planes and copters make drops on the ridge near his home from the 200 block of North Loop Drive.

"They pulled out everything," he said of the firefighters battling the blaze, which is about 10% contained. "There's much less smoke than before. We don't see any more flames."

The blaze, which broke out shortly after 3 p.m., had burned at least 50 acres, officials said. Earlier in the day, voluntary evacuations were issued for two neighborhoods.